Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics
In this essay, I'll present an example of counterfactual physical phenomena. More precisely, counterfactual definiteness and interaction-free measurements in quantum mechanics. The example used will be the Elitzur-Vaidman bomb testing experiment, which shows how we can probe the properties of o...
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Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE)
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Perspectiva Filosófica |
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| Online Access: | https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/index.php/perspectivafilosofica/article/view/248685 |
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| author | Nicholas Kluge Corrêa |
| author_facet | Nicholas Kluge Corrêa |
| author_sort | Nicholas Kluge Corrêa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this essay, I'll present an example of counterfactual physical phenomena. More precisely, counterfactual definiteness and interaction-free measurements in quantum mechanics. The example used will be the Elitzur-Vaidman bomb testing experiment, which shows how we can probe the properties of objects, even when they have not been measured, i. e., counterfactual measurements. This type of physical phenomenon seems to operate by the same laws of causality as counterfactual reasoning in decision-making. After all, how can something that doesn't happen affect the real world? I suggest that some mathematical tools used in quantum mechanics may be of interest to those who wish to better model counterfactual possibilities in the decision process or philosophers interested in better understanding the metaphysical implications of quantum mechanics.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-14b0dd479b58401ea0bbfc32dee7b771 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0104-6454 2357-9986 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectiva Filosófica |
| spelling | doaj-art-14b0dd479b58401ea0bbfc32dee7b7712025-08-20T03:48:19ZengUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE)Perspectiva Filosófica0104-64542357-99862022-05-0149210.51359/2357-9986.2022.248685Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanicsNicholas Kluge Corrêahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5633-6094In this essay, I'll present an example of counterfactual physical phenomena. More precisely, counterfactual definiteness and interaction-free measurements in quantum mechanics. The example used will be the Elitzur-Vaidman bomb testing experiment, which shows how we can probe the properties of objects, even when they have not been measured, i. e., counterfactual measurements. This type of physical phenomenon seems to operate by the same laws of causality as counterfactual reasoning in decision-making. After all, how can something that doesn't happen affect the real world? I suggest that some mathematical tools used in quantum mechanics may be of interest to those who wish to better model counterfactual possibilities in the decision process or philosophers interested in better understanding the metaphysical implications of quantum mechanics. https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/index.php/perspectivafilosofica/article/view/248685counterfactual definitenessinteraction-free measurementscounterfactualitymetaphysicsquantum mechanics |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas Kluge Corrêa Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics Perspectiva Filosófica counterfactual definiteness interaction-free measurements counterfactuality metaphysics quantum mechanics |
| title | Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics |
| title_full | Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics |
| title_fullStr | Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics |
| title_short | Counterfactuality and the physical reality: lessons from quantum mechanics |
| title_sort | counterfactuality and the physical reality lessons from quantum mechanics |
| topic | counterfactual definiteness interaction-free measurements counterfactuality metaphysics quantum mechanics |
| url | https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/index.php/perspectivafilosofica/article/view/248685 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicholasklugecorrea counterfactualityandthephysicalrealitylessonsfromquantummechanics |